Dutch Ruether Stats & Facts

Dutch Ruether Essentials

Positions:
Bats: L Throws: L
73 Weight: 180
Born: 9 13, 1893 in Alameda, CA USA
Died: 5 16 1970 in Phoenix, AZ USA
Debut: 4/13/1917
Last Game: 9/29/1927
Full Name: Walter Henry Ruether

Dutch Reuther was born in 1893 in Alameda California. In prep school his coach was longtime AL umpire George Hildebrand. Hildebrand tried to give him some tips but Reuther refused to listen. The coach said “Get out of here, you young hard-head, “You’ll never be a ballplayer as long as you live. You’re solid bone from your ears up.” He was wrong.

Reuther went to St. Ignatius College and while there pitched an exhibition against the White Sox. He took a 2-1 lead to the 9th but gave up a 3 run home run to Buck Herzog. He signed a deal with a Pirates scout that would allow him to opt out if he didn’t make the majors. He didn’t make it and opted out and played in the western part of the U.S. for a few teams.

In 1916 the Chicago Cubs picked him in the rule 5 draft. In his debut he only gave up 1 run in a complete game. He pitched in 9 more games winning 1 before the Cubs waived him. The Reds claimed him and he pitched in 7 games before the Reds lost him to the army. He only played in 2 games in 1918 for the same reason.

In 1919 he was named opening day starter and pitched accordingly. That year Ruether had clearly his best season posting the only sub 2 ERA of his career. He was selected as the starter of game 1 of the World Series, allowing 1 run in a complete game. He started game 6 ofthe World Series giving up 4 runs in a no decision, the Reds lost the game but won the series. In 1920 Reuther also had a fine season going 16-12 with a 2.47 ERA as the Reds finished 3rd.

After the season he was traded to the Brooklyn Robins for Rube Marquard. His first season in Brooklyn he got off to a slow start going 10-13 with a 4.26 ERA in 1921. In 1922 he bounced back going 21-12 with a 3.53 ERA. He went 23-27 with a 4.10 ERA over the next two years in Flatbush and Brooklyn sold Reuther to the defending champion Washington Senators.

Reuther was 30-13 with a 4.29 ERA in all of 1925 and most of 1926 before being traded to the Yankees for the pennant race. He went 2-3 in the regular season and pitched in game 3 of the World Series but lost giving up 4 runs 2 earned as the Yankees were shut out by Jessie Haines of the Cardinals. Reuther pinch hit twice against Grover Cleveland Alexander and made outa both times. The Cardinals won the Series.

Reuther roomed with the Babe during the next season and the two were both known for having a good time. He stayed with the Yankees in 1927 and went 13-6 with a 3.38 ERA. There were rumors of a dispute about a bonus if he won 15 games and he was used mostly as a pinch hitter in the final month. The 1927 Yankees are one of the most famous World Champions but Reuther did not appear in the World Series. It was his last season in the majors.

He spent a few years in the PCL including a 29 win season and spent some time as a player manager then spent 25 years as a professional scout.

1919 stats: 19-6 1.82
Reds career: 36-21 2.26
Career: 137-95 3.50

Selected Reds leaderboards:
ERA (3rd)
W-L % (4th)
WHIP (17th)
H/9 (13th)
CG (T50th)
Shutouts ( T35th)
HR/9 (1st)
ERA+ (T5th)

Selected MLB top ten lists:
1st:
Fielding percentage 2 times
Win-loss % 1 time
HR/9 1 time

Top ten:
Wins 2 times
ERA 2 times
Strikeouts 3 times